1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio

Traditional Leaders
police, army, prison officers and CIOs must not be political or partisan as this
would interfere with their law enforcement mandates.
• Security forces should still conduct themselves in a professional and nonpartisan
manner and should not serve the interests of individual political
parties.
• Although the presence of police officers at polling stations is to maintain order,
ZESN is concerned that the deployment of large numbers of security forces at
polling stations could lead to voter intimidation.
The role of traditional leadership in the politics of Zimbabwe remains a highly contested terrain.
There were widespread reports of the involvement of traditional leaders in political campaigns,
campaigning for ZANU PF, threatening known or suspected opposition supporters with eviction
from their fiefdoms, ordering opposition supporters facing threats of eviction to pay a fine of an
ox in order to be forgiven. Such practices are in breach of their traditional god-fatherly role in
their communities. It is therefore recommended that traditional leaders remain apolitical and
should embrace all their subjects regardless of their political persuasion. They should allow
their subjects to exercise their freedom of choice and association. They should not align with
any political party.
Diaspora Voters
The Electoral Act currently restricts postal voting to disciplined force members and electoral
officers who will be absent from their constituencies on electoral duties, Government officials
who are absent from the country on Government service, and spouses of such persons. It is
recommended that the Electoral Commission should be given the power to establish a system
that allows Zimbabweans living outside the country [diaspora] to vote by post if they are unable
to return to Zimbabwe to cast their votes.
Assisted Voters
While the Electoral Law Amendment 2008 stipulates that illiterate and physically handicapped
voters should be assisted to vote by two electoral officers or employees of the Commission,
rather than by the presiding officer of the polling station in the presence of a policeman [as was
previously provided by the Act], these provisions have however also been affected by the
Presidential Powers[ Temporary Measures Amendment of Electoral Act] Regulations 2008
which stipulates that that illiterate or handicapped voters will be assisted by the presiding officer
in the presence of two other electoral officers and a police officer on duty. It is recommended
that the law should go further and require the Commission to disclose the total number of ballot
printed for each election. Only a trusted friend or relative to safeguard the secrecy of their ballot
and avoid intimidation should assist assisted voters. In the 27 June Elections, reports of literate
people being assisted to vote were widespread. There is therefore need to ensure that this
abuse is immediately stopped.
Conclusion
The fact that the 27 June presidential run-off has come and gone without effectively resolving
the political impasse in the country raises fundamental questions about the way forward. The
question is particularly pertinent given that the country has been running since March with no
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